Ever hear of impacted wisdom teeth? In this article, we will discuss wisdom teeth, and potential complications with them.

What are impacted wisdom teeth?

A person’s first permanent molars will usually erupt around age six or seven. The final set of teeth a person can expect to see are called third molars, or sometimes referred to as wisdom teeth. These will usually erupt between ages 17 and 21. In some cases, a person may see all for wisdom teeth, and sometimes perhaps none at all! Wisdom teeth can come in without any issues, and sometimes, they can cause some problems.

Wisdom teeth become impacted when they fail to fully erupt due to blockage from other teeth. This can sometimes cause pain, inflammation, infection, or damage to adjacent teeth. It is estimated that in the Swedish population alone, this condition affects up to 72%. Why do we even have these teeth if they cause so many issues? One speculation is that the diet of humans thousands of years ago wore molars down significantly. Wisdom teeth would erupt around the time the second molars would wear down, giving a person “new” teeth.

The most common method of treatment is wisdom teeth extraction, with approximately 10 million wisdom teeth removed each year. Most people will experience pain and swelling after surgery, with the first day post surgery being the worst. Most people are able to return to work after 2-3 days, and find that the level of discomfort will decrease to about 25% by day number seven.

It is important to make an appointment with your dentist if you are experiencing any pain with your wisdom teeth, or you notice they have not fully erupted. Sometimes the idea of a procedure like tooth extraction can sound scary, but the folks at Wallace Family Dentistry will be with you every step of the way!

Is there a better option to partial dentures? What if a person is just missing one or two teeth? In the following article, we will discuss how a dental implant works, and how this could be a better option

How Does An Implant Work?

Have you ever seen partial dentures? Perhaps someone you know or even yourself have them. Partial dentures are just like full dentures and are removable for daily cleaning. They are definitely a more cost effective option, however, like full dentures, they can move in your mouth, effect the way you speak and what you eat. Implants are a great option to alleviate some of the typical issues of partial dentures if a person is missing one or a few teeth.

Implants begin with a cylindrical or tapered titanium post that is surgically inserted into the jawbone. As the healing process continues, the titanium post will literally fuse with the jawbone to create a strong base for the replacement tooth or teeth. This healing process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

After the healing process, a connector piece, called an abutment is place on to the implant to connect it to the replacement tooth or teeth. Then, the individual tooth, bridge or dentures with multiple teeth are then connected to the abutment. This option does require more of an investment from the individual, but it will produce better and longer lasting results that with full or partial dentures.

As always, if you have any questions about dental implants, or any other dental concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Wallace Family Dentistry in Edmond, OK!

Stress can come from many sources, and have many negative effects on your health. Did you know that stress can also affect your dental health?

Stress and Dental Health

Today it is common knowledge that stress can wreak havoc on a person’s overall health. We know that low energy, headaches, nausea, aches, pains, tense muscles, chest pains, and even rapid heartbeat are symptoms of stress. But, it can also negatively affect our general oral health. Here are a few symptoms of stress in your dental health.

Tooth Decay – Sometimes during tense seasons of our lives, routine goes out the window. Sometime due to demanding schedules, we make unhealthy choices about what we eat and drink. At the end of a crazy day, forget about brushing and flossing! This will increase our risk of tooth decay as time goes on.

Gum Disease – Gum disease can be caused by the build up of bacterial plaque where your gums and teeth meet. As anxiety affects your health, it can weaken your immune system, increasing the risk of infection in your mouth where bacterial is present.

Grinding Teeth – Most often, grinding of the teeth happens at night, and most people aren’t aware they are doing it. When you grind your teeth at night, it can cause damage to the protective layer of enamel on your teeth. Teeth grinding can also cause headaches and jaw soreness. Sometimes dentists, will recommend that an individual wear a night guard, to protect from any further damage.

These are just a few of the ways that stress can negatively affect a person’s oral health. If you have any questions or concerns about your general oral health, contact Wallace Family Dentistry in Edmond, OK to schedule an appointment!